Buffalo State defeats New Paltz to head to the semifinals

BUFFALO, N.Y.—Buffalo State netted a pair of second half goals and William Banahene (Rochester/Brighton) made seven saves as the Bengals captured their first SUNYAC playoff victory since 1984, defeating New Paltz, 2-0, in today's SUNYAC quarterfinal match at Coyer Field.
 
THE BASICS
FINAL SCORE: Buffalo State – 2, New Paltz - 0
LOCATION: Coyer Field – Buffalo, N.Y.
RECORDS: Buffalo State (11-5-1), New Paltz (8-3-7),
 
HOW IT HAPPENED 

• Buffalo State spent much of the first half on its own half of the field, but conceded limited quality chances to the Hawks how finished the opening 45 minutes with a 5-1 edge in shots. 
• The Bengals emerged from the intermission as the aggressors in the second half, but it was New Paltz who registered the best early chance, ripping a long shot that goalkeeper Banahene was able to deflect before it glanced off of the cross bar.
• Buffalo State responded and continued to apply pressure and Brandon Galanti (Hamburg/Frontier) earned a foul in the box in the 65^th minute as he was taken down from behind by the goalkeeper racing for a loose ball.
• Bass Sarr (New York/JREC) converted the ensuing penalty kick for his 12^th goal of the season to break the scoreless draw.
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• The teams traded possession over the next several minutes before New Paltz drew a point-blank chance with 13 minutes remaining, but Banahene dove and got a hand on a shot heading inside of the left post.
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• Less than one minute later, Galanti sealed the victory with his fourth goal of the season, intercepting a ball off a misplayed header by a New Paltz defender and slipping it past the challenging Hawks' keeper.
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FOR THE FOES 

• John Guzzo made one save in goal for the Hawks in the loss.

 
NOTEWORTHY 

• Buffalo State had not won a playoff game since defeating Oneonta, 2-1, in the 1984 SUNYAC semifinals.  The Bengals lost in the conference championship game that seaso, but still earned an at-large bid to the NCAA tournament.
• The Bengals reached the 11 win mark for the first time since 2004 and just the second time since 1984. 

 
UP NEXT
Buffalo State advances to visit top-seeded Cortland in a semifinal match on Wednesday at 1 p.m.